Understanding Data Elements in Adobe Experience Platform: Event Forwarding

Data elements play a crucial role in configuring event forwarding within Adobe Experience Platform, enabling organizations to capture and transmit specific data points efficiently. This guide explores the intricacies of data elements in event forwarding, highlighting their types, configurations, and usage within the platform.

Problem Statement

Organizations often struggle to effectively configure data elements for event forwarding in Adobe Experience Platform due to nuances in syntax and referencing data from Platform Edge Network. Without a clear understanding of these elements, businesses may encounter challenges in accurately capturing and utilizing essential data for analytics and insights.

Data Elements in Event Forwarding

Data elements within event forwarding are integral components that facilitate the retrieval and transmission of specific data points to designated endpoints or destinations. Key aspects of data elements in this context include:

Types and Configurations:

• Availability: Data elements available in event forwarding are limited to compatible extensions that support them. These extensions provide predefined data elements that can be configured within Adobe’s UI environments.
• Creation and Configuration: Similar to tags, data elements in event forwarding are created and configured through Adobe’s Data Collection UI or Experience Platform UI.

Syntax and Data Referencing:

• Syntax Differences: When referencing data from Platform Edge Network in event forwarding, specific syntax rules must be followed.
• Data Element Configuration: To create a data element that references data from Platform Edge Network, select the appropriate extension (typically Core) and define the type as Path.
• Path Value: The Path value for the data element must adhere to the format arc.event.{ELEMENT}, where {ELEMENT} represents a valid path to the desired data. For instance, arc.event.xdm.web.webPageDetails.URL is a valid path that specifies the URL of a web page.

Example of a Path Type Data Element

To illustrate, consider the configuration of a path type data element for event forwarding:

1. Access UI: Navigate to the Data Collection UI or Experience Platform UI.
2. Create Data Element: Select Core as the extension and Path as the type.
3. Define Path: Enter arc.event.xdm.web.webPageDetails.URL as the Path value.
4. Save and Configure: Save the data element configuration to ensure proper data referencing from Platform Edge Network.

Conclusion

Effectively configuring data elements for event forwarding in Adobe Experience Platform is essential for maximizing the utility of collected data. By understanding the types, configurations, and syntax rules associated with data elements, organizations can streamline data collection processes and ensure accurate transmission of essential data points to designated endpoints.

Utilize Adobe’s in-product help resources and documentation to further enhance your understanding of data elements within event forwarding. This approach empowers businesses to leverage data-driven insights effectively, driving informed decision-making and enhancing customer experiences.